The Yankees didn’t let Aaron Judge’s absence turn into a slide. That’s the biggest takeaway from a week that could have gone sideways fast and instead ended with New York climbing in the power rankings.
Judge went on the IL at the beginning of June with a stress fracture in his upper right rib, an injury he had been dealing with earlier in the season before it became too much. In past years, losing the captain might have sent the Bronx Bombers into a tailspin. This group has held its ground in the American League East.
That resilience showed up in the final stretch before the All-Star Break. New York had two road series left, first against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays in a four-game set, then against the Washington Nationals for three games. The Yankees split with the AL East-leading Rays, then handled the Nationals with a sweep - though not without some late drama.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller rewarded that 5-2 week by moving the Yankees from No. 9 to No. 7 in this week’s power rankings.
"New York's series in the nation's capital was the baseball equivalent of the 'They had us in the first half, not gonna lie' meme. In innings 1-7, the Yankees were outscored by a combined score of 8-4, trailing by either one or two runs in each game.
But in innings 8-9, they smoked the Nationals' bullpen to the tune of a 10-0 advantage, winning each game in come-from-behind fashion. And for the week, Ben Rice went 11-for-26 with five home runs and the game-winning, two-run triple on Sunday."
The sweep leaves New York three games behind the Rays. Next comes a serious measuring-stick moment right after the break, with the Los Angeles Dodgers waiting first on the schedule.
In Other News...
Yankees Suddenly Look Like They Won The Oswald Peraza Trade
Oswald Perazas move out of the Yankees organization looked like the kind of swap that could be judged over time, and for a while it at least had some early intrigue. He opened the season with a strong stretch against his former club, while the return piece, Wilberson De Pea, was still building his case in the minors and trying to show that the Yankees had not simply moved on from one young infielder for nothing.
De Pea has since given the Yankees plenty to like. The prospect has climbed into the upper tier of the system, now sitting 12th in the Yankees rankings, and his appeal is easy to see in the power and exit velocity that have stood out in the lower minors. For New York, the deal suddenly looks less like a clean break and more like a bet that may already be tilting in the organizations favor, even if the full verdict still has some runway left. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Just Got Teasing Trade News On A Potential Bullpen Game Changer
The Yankees are still in the thick of the American League East race, but sitting three games back has only sharpened the focus on the trade deadline. At 54-42, they have every reason to keep looking for bullpen help, and the latest chatter suggests they could be in the market for a late-inning arm if the right deal comes together.
One possible fit has already started to generate buzz, with San Diego emerging as a team that could listen if the price is high enough. The catch, of course, is that any move for a reliever of that caliber would likely require a significant return, which is why this feels more like an early signal than a deal on the verge of getting done. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Linked To A Shortstop Gamble Fans Will Instantly Debate
Anthony Volpe is still holding down the Yankees shortstop job, but the conversation around him has only gotten louder. His offensive production and work in the field have drawn plenty of criticism, even as Derek Jeter has said the Yankees are high on Volpes potential and willing to bet on the upside that made him such a prominent part of their future plans.
Not everyone sees that patience as a virtue. Adam Schein has been openly skeptical about whether Volpe is ready for the majors, and the chatter has only sharpened as rival clubs start to enter the picture in trade speculation. With Jose Caballero having looked like an upgrade at shortstop, the Yankees are at least facing a real question about how long they can keep treating Volpe as untouchable. [Read more 🡒]